What’s The Odds? Betting Probe Footballer Takes A Big Gamble

The PFAI have issued an extraordinary statement  in the wake of the postponement of a hearing into illegal betting in the League Of Ireland by the FAI.The players’ union issued a statement on behalf of former Derry City player Gareth McGlynn who has confirmed he is one of the latest two people being investigated by the FAI about allegations of improper betting.
The FAI said on Tuesday morning that two people connected with Derry City last season were being investigated.The latest revelations followed the three-month ban handed to former Derry player Sammy Morrow last week.
While accepting that he is being investigated, McGlynn insisted that he had not bet on games involving Derry.An FAI hearing was scheduled to take place on Tuesday but it was postponed.A statement by the FAI said “that the disciplinary hearing in relation to two individuals connected with the former Derry City Football Club” had been postponed with the agreement of the parties.The statement added that the hearing is in relation to an alleged breach of FAI rule 100 which is concerned with betting and gambling.
McGlynn, who now plays for Bohemians, expressed disappointment that the FAI had released Tuesday’s statement given that the hearing has been put back until 16 April.
“Although I was not named, inevitable speculation and rumour that will follow such allegations have meant that it is necessary for me to clarify the position now,” The former Derry player went on to acknowledge that he placed “small bets” on four games – the Cork v Wexford Youth clash on 25 August 2008; Dundalk v Sligo Rovers on 29 May 2009; St Patrick’s Athletic v Sligo Rovers on 29 May 2009; Kildare v Longford 5 June 2009.”
“As is patently clear, I was not a player for any of these clubs at the time and had no involvement in the matches in any way, I had no knowledge relating to or influence over the outcomes of these matches and it, in fact, merely resulted in my losing money.At the time that I placed these bets, I was not aware of the full text of Rule 100.I genuinely believed that the rule simply prohibited me from betting on matches involving my own club (as happened in the well known case of Gary Dempsey) and I was shocked to discover otherwise.I accept that the placing of these bets represents a technical breach of rule 100.However, I say that I have not broken the spirit of the rule and I had no more advantage or knowledge than the average punter. This is proven by the negative results.
It is also worth noting that the bets were placed through a Betfair account which is an entirely transparent process.”McGlynn expressed his regret for his misunderstanding of the rule but insisted that it was a “genuine mistake”.
“I am confident that the FAI disciplinary committee will take this into account when considering the issue,”

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